Billionaires React To Steve Jobs' Death

Since Apple announced the death of founder Steve Jobs, ending over three decades of world-shattering technological innovation, a host of billionaires — many of whom knew Jobs personally — have responded with sadness and reverence. Less than a day has past and already 20 fellow members of the Forbes 400 have released, posted, or Tweeted their thoughts about the iconic CEO.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, longtime rival and occasional enemy of Jobs, said, "The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely."

Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg hinted at the role Jobs played in encouraging his vision for social networking: "Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."

Everyone has their own take on Jobs's legacy. Warren Buffett noted, "I'm not much of a tech guy, but I'm enough of a consumer guy to know that there are very few people who made an impact on the consumer like he did." Rupert Murdoch called Jobs "simply the greatest CEO of his generation." Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said, "Steve was a teacher to anyone paying attention." Filmmaker Steven Spielberg chimed in: "Steve Jobs was the greatest inventor since Thomas Edison. He put the world at our fingertips."

Brian Solomon was a Forbes staff writer from 2011 to 2017. He most recently covered technology startups, with a special focus on the on-demand economy of Uber, Airbnb, and more. Previously at Forbes he wrote about everything from small business to billionaires to Wall Stre...